insurance changes Archives - Steinlage Insurance Agency

Many people are wondering how we will buy health insurance from the new “exchange” in 2014. Do I have to figure this out on my own? The answer is no! Our agency is gearing up to be a navigator, the official term for someone who helps people make the best decision for their situations. As always we don’t charge any fees and there are no costs using our services ever! Here is a likely way that we will purchase health insurance after 2014: You log onto the federal government’s health insurance website benchmarked for Missouri. It might be something like http://www.moinsurance.org/. You type in your name and Social Security number and your specific application is generated. The application takes data from your 2012 tax return to determine what subsidy level (if any) you qualify for. You can then view, apply for, and purchase health insurance specific to your family right from…

Health care costs and premiums go hand-in-hand it is a question asked hundreds of times: “Why are my health care premiums going up when I only went to the doctor once?” A lot of people think their premiums increase only because they’ve used too many health care services — like what happens to your car insurance if you get too many speeding tickets. But that’s not how individual health plans work. Premium adjustments are based on age, location and — most importantly — the expected cost to pay members’ claims in the upcoming year. As that cost continues to go up, premiums go up. Even for people who don’t use a lot of health care services. The fact is that costs are rising rapidly within the whole health care system. By 2019, the U.S. will spend about $4.4 trillion on health care.1 Yes, trillion with a “t.” It’s hard to…

In the upcoming weeks, retirees’ from the Special School District of Saint Louis County are faced with an insurance decision similar to an algebra exam, deciphering the Medicare world after years of relying on an employer for assistance. This situation is becoming more common, as the employee/employer landscape changes, employers cut expenses, and retiree healthcare costs continue to increase faster than the rate of inflation. Over the years, we have helped many retirees choose the best possible plan when making this decision. If you find yourself losing an employer retiree plan, here are a few things to consider: 1. If your employer terminates your coverage and you are on Medicare, you can purchase a Medicare Supplement without passing through medical underwriting. You are able to sign up for a supplement (which will pay the 20% that Medicare leaves behind as well as the hospital expenses) regardless of your health…